NRPG submitted the attached response in respect of the proposed amendments to the MRS 1236. The key concerns are that the amendment does not provide for statutory protection of Bush Forever Areas and also that it allows government authorities to clear and develop their Bush Forever sites with the approval of the WAPC, but without public consultation through a clause intended to streamline the development approval processes for development proposals on reserved lands owned or vested in public authorities within Bush Forever areas.

As you may have seen NRPG wrote a letter to the Officer of the Appeals Convenor regarding the clearing of a bush forever site at Hartfield Park for a sportsground. We were gratified with the response from them which overturned the Shire's decision. However that joy was shortlived - the Minister for the Environment has since overturned that decision! Both letters are attached.

We now have to decide whether to proceed further with this matter by perhaps invoking the EPBC Act. We will keep you informed.

For reference I have also attached the clearing permit which shows a map of the proposed area to be cleared and background information including the fact that the clearing is NOT supported by the WAPC (bottom of page 2).